McDowell County Transfer Station

Small county transfer station just off NC-226 in Marion, used mostly by local residents dropping off household trash and small loads. The place compacts trash and then hauls it to a landfill elsewhere, so it's often a quicker option than driving to a distant landfill. Locals swing by with trailers, pickup loads, or a few bags from a yard cleanup.

Pull up to an entrance booth and be prepared to stop briefly; there’s usually a scale somewhere at these stations so traffic often pauses when trucks check in and out. The site is mostly paved with concrete pads and a few large roll-off containers or compactors set into bays; signage and arrows point toward drop-off lanes. Recycling and bulk-drop spots tend to be grouped off to one side, and larger vehicles line up differently than cars, so watch where others are pulling through. Expect trucks coming and going - it’s a working yard, not a quiet park.